Melbourne households to pay less for water

Caroline Zielinski

Melbourne households can expect to pay less for water as state-owned companies undertake cost-cutting measures across their businesses.

The Napthine government announced on Sunday that starting from July, households will save about $100 per year over the next four years as part of the government's Fairer Water Bills initiative.

Dr Napthine said the discount will apply to Victoria’s urban water sector customers from Yarra Valley Water, City West Water, Western Water and South East Water, and will be paid directly from the $1 billion of savings identified within the four companies.

“The Victorian Coalition Government’s Fairer Water Bills initiative is delivering more than $1 billion of savings that will be made across Victoria’s urban water sector over the next four years,” Dr Napthine said.”

“These savings will translate into bill reductions of approximately $100 a year for Melbourne households for each of the next four years.”

Water Minister Peter Walsh said regional customers would also see the benefits of Fairer Water Bills after a review of rural water businesses was completed.

It is understood that cost-cutting changes will include discarding paper bill reminders, using new technology for testing pipes and cutting the use of consultants for training. Some job losses can also be expected.

Mr Walsh said the savings were in stark contrast to Labor Party’s “knee-jerk decisions like the desalination plant and the North-South pipeline”.